By Tom Angell

 

Voters in at least two Ohio cities — and as many as eight cities and one whole county — will get a chance to decriminalize marijuana locally this November.

This week, officials certified that advocates in Logan and Newark collected enough signatures to place measures on the cities’ November ballots to remove the threat of fines or jail time for possessing up to 200 grams of marijuana.

According to Ohio NORML, advocates are currently working to qualify similar measures in the municipalities of Bellaire, Bellevue, Cleveland, Elyria, Huron and Norwood, as well as in Lucas County.

Last September, voters in Toledo approved a cannabis decriminalization measure by a strong margin of 70 percent to 30 percent. But Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine later filed suit, claiming that it was unconstitutional for the city to remove certain penalties for crimes that remain felonies under state law. A judge agreed, invalidating portions of the ordinance.

In November, Ohio voters rejected a statewide marijuana legalization initiative that generated opposition even from many longtime marijuana law reform activists by proposing an oligopolistic model for commercial cannabis cultivation controlled by the very investors who funded the ballot initiative campaign. Advocates were also turned off by “Buddie,” the marijuana superhero mascot the campaign used to attempt to reach young voters. The measure, which campaigned under the banner or ResponsibleOhio, was soundly defeated by a margin of 36 percent to 64 percent.

Advocates acknowledge that local measures can’t take away the threat of overarching state and federal prohibitions, but they believe that passing municipal initiatives demonstrates public support for change and generates momentum that can make broader reform come sooner.

“The majority of voters no longer support marijuana prohibition policies, and that change comes in many forms, including local ballot initiatives,” Chris Lindsey, senior legislative counsel with the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), told Marijuana.com in an email. “Changing local law does not change state law, but it does send a strong message to local officials and state lawmakers that voters are ready to move away from antiquated policy. Clearly many voters in Ohio do not feel that the current law goes far enough, and they are willing to do the hard work to take matters to the voters.”

In June, Gov. John Kasich signed a bill making Ohio the 25th state in the country with a comprehensive medical cannabis program. The law will create a system of regulated dispensaries where patients with recommendations from their doctors can purchase marijuana, but it won’t allow for smoking or home cultivation.

In addition to the local decriminalization ballot measures, a number of cities may vote this November on measures to prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries from opening. According to the MPP, bans are being drafted in the municipalities of Dover, Lakewood City, Lancaster, Liberty Township, Lima, Hartville Village, New Philadelphia and Rocky River.